MANILA, Philippines – Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial revealed on Tuesday, September 6, that her department has released P10 million for the hospitalization of the victims of the Davao City blast.

“I made an order to our finance people to release P10 million to Southern Philippines Medical Center, and to the regional health office in Davao to actually attend to the needs of patients outside of Southern Philippines Medical Center,” Ubial said during the Department of Health’s (DOH) budget hearing at the House of Representatives. 

Ubial said the amount was released on Monday, September 5. 

The September 2 blast at the Roxas Night Market killed at least 14 people and wounded more than 60 others.

On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte signed  a proclamation declaring a “state of national emergency on account of lawless violence.” Malacañang issued Proclamation No. 55 the following day.

During the budget hearing on Tuesday, Ubial also revealed her plans not just for the Davao blast victims, but also for victims of other acts of terrorism and conflict.

“When I was regional director in Davao, I had a memorandum of agreement with all the private hospitals in the area, and we provide services and we cover the cost for all victims of terrorism and conflict in that regard. We will now do that on a nationwide scale.”

DOH’s proposed 2017 budget amounts to P144 billion, nearly a third of it or P50 billion for the PhilHealth premiums of senior citizens and the poor. – Rappler.com